Tool holder for cartons



March 3o, 1943. H, E RUE 2,315,015

TOOL HOLDER FOR CARTONS F'i led May 19, 1941 f INVENTOR HAROLDERUE ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 30, 1943 Toor. HOLDER Fon oAR'roNs Harold E. Rue, Wauwatosa., Wis., assgnor to Pabst Brewing Company, Chicago, Ill.

appiication May 19, 1941, serial No. 394,159

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to shipping cartons for containers having metallicV covers necessitating the use of a tool for puncturing or opening the same.

At the present time, containers used extensively for beer, milk, fruit juice and other liquids, are packed in shipping cartons into which an opening tool is promiscuously inserted by the packer either on top or between the containers.

Due to rough handling and agitation of the carton, the loose tool frequently becomes shifted and wedged between the containers, resulting in damage of one or more of the containers, and consequent loss of the contents. Further, the tools may become lodged in the bottom of the carton, which requires a Search, and in some instances removal of a number of containers to locate the same.

The present invention has primarily -for its object to overcome the foregoing difculties by the provision of a ber shipping carton having means formed therein for receiving and rmly holding an opening tool in fixed relation to the containers, in which position its piercing end extends into a space occurring between a group of containers.

A further object of the invention resides in forming spaced openings in one of the cover flaps of the fiber carton through which the at shank of a puncturing tool may be threaded.

Another object is to form tool receiving cepenings in an inner cover flap of the carton, making it necessary to open the same for access to the tool, thus preventing its theft or loss.

A still further object resides in forming a pair of spaced tool receiving openings in each end flap of the carton, thus fascilitating insertion of the tool regardless of the position in which the carton is presented to the packer. l

Lastly, a more specific object is to form the tool receiving openings at an angle to the rows of containers within the carton, .to position and support the tool diagonally over the top of a container with its depending piercing end extending into a space between the adjacent containers.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more :partticularly defined by the appended claims, it 4being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention -constructed according to the .best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a shipping carton constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of one of the carton cover aps incorporating the present tool holder; and, l

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line :3-3 of Figure2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates a rectangularly shaped ber carton including inner folded end flaps 2, and outer side aps 3 folded over and secured upon the end flaps to form a closure for the top of the carton. Y i

As best illustrated in Figure 1, the present carton is designed to receive parallel rows of closely packed round containers C, affording openings or spacings O between'each group of containers.

Heretofore, it has .been customary for the packer to promiscuously insert an opening tool into one of the spaces O, or place the same upon the top of the containers prior to sealing the carton flaps, and as explained in the foregoing objects, rough handling of the container in shipping frequently resulted in shifting of the tool, 'causing the same to become wedged between the containers, or lodged below the same, with consequent damage to the containers or diiculty in locating the tool.

The salient feature of the invention consists in forming a tool holder in one of the carton flaps, to firmly hold a pointed or piercing tool in fixed position to prevent contact with the containers.

In the preferred form of the invention, the foregoing is accomplished by forming spaced openings-4 in one off the end flaps Z, said openings being separated by a web 5, which may Joe slit longitudinally to render the same more flexible and facilitate insertion or threading of a tool T through the openings.

In addition to the openings A, the inner edge of the end flap 2 is provided with a notch 6 for reception of the offset head of the piercing end 'l of a can opener tool, which consists of a raised crimp affording a shoulder 8, and a depending struck out prong 9 for engaging the bottom of the container bead when forcing the piercing end through the cover. The rear end of the can opener tool T, which extends below the carton flap 2, may be provided with a hook ID for removing conventional Crown caps.

Inasmuch as it is customary to pack round containers in parallel rows, as indicated in Figure 1, in order to utilize one of the spaces O for reception of the piercing end 1 of the tool, the alined openings Il and notch 5 are formed at an angle to the rows of containers to position and support thershank'of the tool T upon the top of a container with its piercing edge depending into the adjacent opening O. While not essential to the invention, the piercing end 'l of the tool may be t provided with a resilient protective sleeve III,

cover or carton, against damage to the containers.

As best shown in Figure 3, conventional con-'1" tainers are provided with beaded metallic covers l2, the inner portion of which is slightly depressed. This characteristic of the container serves Vto accommodate the depressed web 5 vas well vas the prong Band allow thevrtool to be `supported directly upon'thecover bead. In i-tslnormlal position, the -prong abuis-the inner circumference of the bead, andin cooperatin with the inner end oi' the notch which engages the shoulder 8, upon sealing the container', the v.tool is rmly held against shifting.

To further facilitate assembly of the tool-inthe cartonwhich maybe presented to theypackerin several positions, it is-propesed to form the tool receiving openings and notchesin both of the end aps 2, as indicated in 'Figure V1,'which arrangement also serves the convenience of `either Yrighthand'or left-hand packers. f

From the foregoing explanation considered vin connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be rreadily seen that exceedingly simple, inexpensive, and veifectivelmeans has been yprovided for attachment of a tool to a container shipping carton which, inthe preferred -forrn of the invention, thef'to'olis secured-againstioss or theft and iirmly Lheldagainst shifting ordislodgement the carton, vthus eliminating damage l'to theK containers as well as difficulty in locating the tool.

I claim:

1. In a :liber container for receiving rows of closely packed round containers having spaces between the same, inner closure iiaps for engaging over the containers and outer closure aps adapted to extend over and hide the inner flaps, one of said inner naps being provided with means for receiving and detachably holding a tool for opening the containers, the tool .being of the type having a flat shank and an arcuate Vpenetrating prong on one end of the shank, said tool holding means consisting of spaced openings in the last mentioned inner flap for receiving the shank and a flconnect'ing web for supporting the shank and a notch in the-outer edge of said inner ap in alignmentlwi'th the openings for receiving the penetrating prong, whereby the prong can be posi- A AKticned in a space between adjacent containers,

saidlouter flaps when positioned over the inner flaps completely hiding and covering the tool during lshipping-of :the carton.

2. AIn, a fibercarton :tor receiving rows of closely packed round containershazving'spaces between the same, inner closure flaps for engaging. over the containers and Youter Aclosure aps 'adapted to 'extend :over and zhide fthe inn'er flaps, v.one of said inner Yiaps fbeing :prowlded with means for receiving andldetachably holding atool 'for opening the containers, the tool .being fof .the type having a fl'at shank land an-'arcuate penetrating prong-on one end -ef -thefshankl saidltoolholding means consisting -of Vspaced openings inthe last mentioned inner viap forreceiving the shank'and a connecting web 'for supporting the shank and a notch inthe outer edge of said inneriiap in alignment'with the openings jfor ,receiving 'the penetrating prong, whereby the prong .canbe ,positioned in a space between adjacent containers, said outer flaps when .positioned over the inner flaps completely hiding and=covering the tool 'during shipping of -the carton, said web being slit to facilitate the placing and removal ofthe tool from said `tool holding means.

HAROLD E.l RUE. 

